NATICK, Mass., Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc., leading the new field of nuclear transport modulators, announces an oral presentation on the use of its SINE CRM1 antagonists for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester (New York), is presenting "Novel nuclear export inhibitors deplete autoreactive plasma cells and protect mice with lupus from nephritis" at the ACR Annual Meeting in Washington DC on November 14 at 12:15 PM in the Concurrent Session on SLE Animal Models. Dr. Anolik commented, "We are very excited about our findings with Karyopharm's SINE compounds in our mouse lupus models. These mice develop severe lupus kidney disease which, if untreated, leads to their death. When we treated the mice with SINE compounds given by mouth, we were able to reduce the level of kidney disease, associated pathogenic autoantibodies, and the plasma cells that produce them. We are hoping that SINE compounds will be able to move into clinical studies in patients with lupus in the near future."

Dr. Sharon Shacham, Karyopharm's founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and President of research and development commented, "This presentation represents our first public announcement of activity of our novel, oral SINE compounds in an autoimmune disease. We are particularly excited about Dr. Anolik's work pioneering the use of our compounds to treat mice with severe lupus, and look forward to additional work with her to clarify the key mechanisms responsible for the marked activity she has demonstrated. We are working with Dr. Anolik and others on plans to evaluate these compounds in humans suffering from lupus and other autoimmune diseases."

About Karyopharm

Founded by Drs. Sharon Shacham and Michael Kauffman in 2009, Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. has emerged as a leader in the new field of nuclear transport modulators. The company's selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE) function by trapping multiple tumor suppressor and anti-inflammatory proteins in the nucleus, resulting in anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. In collaboration with many academic laboratories, SINEs, targeting the major nuclear exporter CRM1, exert robust anti-cancer and autoimmune disease activity in diverse preclinical models. The lead SINE KPT-330 is now in Phase 1 clinical studies for advanced solid tumor and hematologic malignancies. The related SINE KPT-335 is being evaluated as an oral treatment for dogs with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, one of the most common canine cancers. The Company is also testing SINEs in other autoimmune diseases, as well as viral and dermatologic disorders. Karyopharm Therapeutics is located in Natick, Massachusetts.